Health chiefs “misled” board members over proposals to axe a breast cancer service at the Vale of Leven Hospital, a politician claims.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said bosses who prepared a report outlining the controversial plans incorrectly stated that the Scottish Government approved of the level of consultation.

She quizzed health secretary Jeane Freeman last week at Holyrood over the acute services committee paper.

The leaked paper revealed that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chose removing a breast cancer service from the Vale as a preferred option as part of a redesign of services.

The report recommended members move to full implementation of the plans at a July meeting.

If agreed, all women from the local area would need to travel to the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley for testing.

One of the recommendations in the paper asked members to “note that discussions with the Scottish Government are ongoing but the Scottish Government has indicated satisfaction with the level of engagement in relation to the set of proposals”.

Ms Baillie asked for clarification of that and Ms Freeman replied: “It is the Scottish Health Council (SHC) that actually provides a recommendation and review to me as the cabinet secretary as to whether a board in wider-ranging consultation has undertaken that properly and in this instance we are not yet at that stage.”

The Lennox Herald reported two weeks ago that not one local woman was consulted over the plans, despite claims of a “robust” consultation.

The SHC, which scrutinises public consultations, said the health board’s attempt was “not consistent with good practice and guidance”.

Jackie Baillie said: “It is shocking that officers of the health board misled members of the acute services committee in a bid to have a paper approved which would have seen breast services centralised at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

“The health board had already been advised by the SHC that the consultation on the options appraisal with just one patient was not adequate.

“And last week the cabinet secretary disowned their suggestion that the Scottish Government was satisfied with the engagement to date.

“Clearly this health board cannot be trusted to engage with patients in this area, never mind the wider population, before taking decisions which are patently not in our interests. The cabinet secretary must surely now intervene.”

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC insisted that the report has “no formal standing” and stressed that no decisions have been made.

She said: “This health board works closely with the SHC and will continue to comply with engagement or consultation processes.”